At the end of January, the Northwest war situation became critical. News came from the front lines—Shi Meng had died defending the city, Xia Hongying’s whereabouts were unknown, and Luzhou was in grave danger. When the news returned, court and countryside were shocked.

For several consecutive days, the atmosphere at court was tense to the extreme. Within a few days, Emperor Xuande went from fury to agitation to calm. He sat on the dragon throne listening to the war faction and peace faction argue incessantly on both sides, finally unable to restrain himself. He swept aside the tray full of memorials in Kong Tai’s hands and stood up.

The tray crashed to the ground with a “clang,” echoing in the vast hall. The entire court of civil and military officials knelt on the ground. Emperor Xuande laughed coldly: “When news from the Northwest first came back, everyone put on an appearance of loyal devotion willing to sacrifice themselves for the country, scrambling to volunteer to go to Luzhou. Now seeing the Dayue people are about to attack, each has become someone who fears death. How is it that no one is willing to say they’ll lead troops there anymore?”

The civil and military officials kneeling on the ground couldn’t help but show shame on their faces. A month ago, leading troops to support Luzhou was still a ladder to rise in status overnight in the court ministers’ hearts. A month later, going to Luzhou again had become a death warrant sending people straight to the underworld.

Shi Meng was dead, Xia Hongying’s whereabouts unknown, the front-line war situation confusing and uncertain. Where had Xia Hongying gone? What had become of the Changwu Army? When it rains, it pours—the Northwest rebellion wasn’t yet settled. Where could the court conjure up tens of thousands more troops for support?

Everyone knew in their hearts—going to Luzhou again meant certain death.

That afternoon, Qiu Xinran accompanied Bai Jingming into the palace for an audience with the Emperor. Ever since Bai Jingming had divined the hexagram of “Mars guards the Heart,” Emperor Xuande often summoned him to the palace to discuss the Way. At such times, Qiu Xinran would attend at his side, occasionally joining the philosophical discussions.

She was still young, and her understanding of Daoist scriptures wasn’t deep, but this conversely allowed her to take alternative paths and express several unique insights. Therefore, at such times, Emperor Xuande often dismissed everyone else, leaving only the two to play chess and discuss the classics.

This afternoon, she happened to have been on the night watch last night, so while the two played chess, she secretly yawned several times. Bai Jingming noticed, raised a fist to his lips, and coughed lightly as a reminder. Hearing this, Emperor Xuande couldn’t help smiling: “If you’re tired, just have her withdraw and take a nap. It’s nothing important—no need to endure it here.”

Qiu Xinran felt embarrassed. Seeing Bai Jingming also wave his hand in agreement, she cupped her hands and withdrew from the hall.

The eunuch on duty outside led her toward a nearby side hall. Halfway there, they unexpectedly encountered Li Hanru. Qiu Xinran stopped and bowed to her. Since Qixi, this was the first time the two had met, so when Li Hanru saw her, she was startled: “What are you doing here?”

“Teacher is playing chess with His Majesty in the hall. He permitted this subject to rest briefly in the side hall.”

“Oh…” Li Hanru paused, as if momentarily not knowing what to say. Qiu Xinran nodded, preparing to take her leave, but unexpectedly Li Hanru suddenly raised her head and said to the eunuch leading the way: “I happen to be going to my mother consort’s place too. I’ll take her on the way—you can go back.”

The young eunuch was somewhat surprised and momentarily didn’t know what to do. Seeing this, Li Hanru said impatiently: “What, you don’t trust this princess?”

The young eunuch quickly bowed: “I wouldn’t dare.”

After the two had walked some distance, seeing no one around, Qiu Xinran spoke: “Does the Seventh Princess have something to say to me?”

Sure enough, Li Hanru stopped, turned to look around again, then leaned close and said hurriedly: “Go tell Xia Xiuyan to find a way to leave Chang’an as soon as possible.”

Hearing this, Qiu Xinran’s expression became stern. She hesitated: “What does the Seventh Princess mean by this?”

Li Hanru lowered her eyes and said in a low voice: “That day I secretly overheard Father Emperor and Mother Consort talking. General Xia’s whereabouts are unknown. Some in court speculate he’s already defected to the enemy. If that’s truly the case, Xia Xiuyan cannot be kept.”

Qiu Xinran pressed her lips together in silence. Naturally, she didn’t believe Xia Hongying would defect to the enemy, but according to the current situation, Xia Hongying’s chances of survival were slim. If he died, then Xia Xiuyan would be the Changwu Army’s first choice to pledge allegiance to. Emperor Xuande wouldn’t permit such a thing to happen. If he hadn’t died, it would also be hard to guarantee his loyalty. As a hostage, Xia Xiuyan would naturally become a useless chess piece that could no longer be kept. But Xia Xiuyan himself probably understood this situation better than anyone.

Qiu Xinran asked again: “This matter is of great importance. Why doesn’t the Seventh Princess tell Young Lord Xia directly instead of telling me?”

“Who wants to tell him?” Li Hanru frowned as if recalling something, clicking her tongue impatiently.

Qiu Xinran suddenly understood: “Is it because of the Qixi incident?”

Li Hanru held back, but she’d never been one to bottle things up. Plus, Qiu Xinran had indeed helped her that time. Now hearing her ask this way, she spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube: “Zheng Yuanwu has also left now, so I won’t hide anything from you. That night, the person I actually wanted to meet was him. I had servants bring word to Zheng Yuanwu, asking him to meet me at Sujiao Palace. I wanted to ask his true feelings clearly—if he truly had no interest in me, then I…” Speaking of this, Li Hanru bit her lip, momentarily unable to continue.

Qiu Xinran didn’t know how to comfort her and could only say: “Everyone has their own fate. The Princess’s destiny may still lie ahead.”

“I know. I’m the Seventh Princess of the Great Li Dynasty—what don’t I have? Must I really hang myself on his tree?” Li Hanru raised her head and snorted, then continued huffily: “Anyway, when the appointed time came, I dismissed my servants and went alone. Arriving at Sujiao Palace, I saw a lamp lit inside with a figure there. I thought Zheng Yuanwu had arrived as agreed and felt somewhat happy. Who knew when I pushed the door open, I’d see Xia Xiuyan lying on the bed with his eyes closed resting. I was surprised, so I went up and shook him awake to ask why he was there. Then he opened his eyes, saw it was me, and also looked very surprised, even asking me back why I was there. At first, I refused to say. Can you guess what he did then?”

“What did he do?”

“He seemed to think of something, suddenly put on a stern face, and told me to get out!” Speaking of this, Li Hanru still wore an expression of lingering resentment. Clearly, no one had ever dared speak to her this way since childhood.

Qiu Xinran consoled: “The Young Lord was also thinking of the Princess.”

Li Hanru scoffed lightly and told her: “Thinking of me means daring to throw a cup at me?”

“He threw a cup at you too?”

“With water still in it!” Li Hanru gritted her teeth. “What’s even more infuriating is the second time I met him at the academy. Thinking I wouldn’t hold the night’s incident against him, I took the initiative to approach and talk to him, to thank him. Guess what he said this time?”

Qiu Xinran recalled Xia Xiuyan’s past behavior and speculated: “If the Princess could learn in the future not to drag others down with you, consider that my thanks.”

Li Hanru’s eyes widened suddenly: “He told you?”

Qiu Xinran was stunned, both amused and exasperated: “This subject guessed blindly.”

“You really are capable—you even guessed that.” This time Li Hanru even forgot to be angry, looking at her admiringly and imitating Xia Xiuyan’s tone from that day: “He put on a dead person’s face and said to me: If the Princess could just do fewer foolish things in the future, I’d be endlessly grateful.”

“He really said that?”

“Word for word.” Li Hanru said irritably. “Looks like I really offended him this time, though this matter can’t all be blamed on me, can it?”

Seeing she felt somewhat wronged, Qiu Xinran asked: “Did this matter have a resolution later?”

Li Hanru shook her head and sighed: “The implicated palace servants were all dealt with. Whether there are other clues—it’s very difficult to investigate further.” Qiu Xinran’s expression grew somewhat heavy. Seeing this, Li Hanru consoled her instead: “But as for who was behind it, I have a rough idea in my heart. Though there’s no evidence, at least I can be more vigilant in the future and not be harmed again.”

Qiu Xinran was alarmed: “The Princess knows who it was?”

“That person arranged this matter simply because they didn’t want me to have any connection with the Zheng family. So think about who doesn’t want to see me marry into the Zheng family?” Right now the Crown Prince position was undecided. If Li Hanru married into the Zheng family, it would be equivalent to Li Hanyi having the Zheng family’s support behind him. Several princes in court had almost all not yet reached the age of capping, but the imperial family’s struggle had already begun long ago.

Qiu Xinran was silent for a moment: “Then why choose to target Young Lord Xia?”

Li Hanru said faintly: “Xia Xiuyan seems to have a noble status, but he’s just an empty shell. If people discovered I had something with him and ruined both our reputations, it wouldn’t invite retaliation.” Li Hanru turned to look at her and asked: “That day he didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

“No.” Qiu Xinran shook her head. She suddenly remembered the scorching breath that had fallen on her neck on the bed that night. Her face showed a moment of unease. After pausing, she continued: “The Young Lord just looked frightening—his mind was still clear.”

Li Hanru showed a suspicious expression, not knowing if she believed it or not. The two arrived at the side hall. Li Hanru stood outside the hall doors with a cold face and told her: “Anyway, I’ve told you everything I know. As for whether to tell him is your business.” After saying this, she turned to leave. Qiu Xinran stood outside the door. Seeing her walk a few steps then stop, she turned back and said awkwardly: “You must tell him—what I owed him from last time is now settled!”

Qiu Xinran lowered her head to hide the smile at the corner of her mouth and nodded in acknowledgment.

She watched Li Hanru walk out of sight. When she lay down on the bed in the side hall, her mind was still full of those words Li Hanru had said to her. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe what the other party said, but what good would telling Xia Xiuyan do? Under heaven, all land belongs to the sovereign; on the shores of the land, all are the sovereign’s subjects. And Xia Xiuyan was a person trapped in Chang’an…